At least 18 killed after truck carrying laborers falls in deep gorge in Arunachal

A tragic accident in a remote gorge in Arunachal Pradesh has resulted in the deaths of at least 18 people from Assam’s Tinsukia district, with three others still reported missing. The incident occurred on the Hayuliang-Chaglagam Road in Anjaw district on December 8. According to Defence PRO Lt Col Mahender Rawat, citing the lone survivor's version, a truck carrying a total of 22 laborers from Tinsukia fell off a cliff that night.

The accident site, located approximately 12 km from Chaglagam, is characterized by extremely difficult terrain with limited connectivity. Due to its remote location, the incident was not reported by any local agency, contractor, or civil representative for several days. It was only after the lone survivor managed to reach the Chipra General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF) camp that the tragedy came to light on Thursday.

Lt Col Mahender Rawat confirmed that 18 bodies have been sighted in the gorge and retrieval operations are currently underway using specialized belay ropes, necessary due to the challenging landscape. The ADC of Hayuliang has informed the SP of Anjaw, who has reached the site, while the District Medical Officer is moving to facilitate the evacuation of casualties and mortal remains, ensuring the deceased are retrieved with dignity despite the logistical difficulties.